Gaiting device for horses



(No Model.)

H. G. GOULD. ,GAITING DEVICE FOR HORSES.

No. 545,626. Patented Sept. a, 1895i NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY G. GOULD, OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN.

GAITING DEVICE FOR HORSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,626, dated September 3, 1895. Application filed May 2, 1895; Serial No. 547,911. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY G. GOULD, a citizen of'the United States, residing at Oshkosh, in the county of Winnebago and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gaiting Devices for Horses; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in gaiting devices for horses; and the objects of my invention are, first, to compel the horse to travel wide or open gaited behind and prevent interfering, scalping, and overreaching, and second, to prevent so-called hitching and compel the horse to trot or pace square.

The invention consists of the combination of frames adapted to be attached to the shafts of a vehicle, pulleys mounted on said frames, and a cord passed about said pulleys and provided at its ends with suitable devices for connecting it to the hind legs of a horse.

It also consists of certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of the devices embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 represents a front view of said devices.

My invention is adapted to either trotters or pacers. A rod B, together with braces b b, forms a frame K to support a horizontal pulley G on each shaft Aof the vehicle. This pulley is mounted in a yoke c, rigidly secured to the outer screw-threaded end of said frame K. A rod H is rigidly attached to each shaft A by means of the end cap e and the clip D, or may be attached in any other similar man ner. The rod-B and the braces 12 b are pivotally connected with the rod H by sleeves h, formed on said rod and. braces, respectively, the rod H passing through said sleeves, so that the frame K is capable of lateral and longitudinal adjustment, and is held in any desired adjusted position by the set-screws a a a, which pass through the sleeves h and engage said rod H.

Hobbies F F, of ordinary construction, are adapted for inclosing the hind legs of the horse above the hooks, and are held up in such position by straps ff, connecting with the crupper-strap of the harness. The hobbles F F are connected by means of a cord G, attached to each hobble and extending forward and about the pulleys O G. The length of the cord G may be regulated by means of buckles it, connecting the ends of said cords with the hobbles.

By the adjustment of frame K on the rod H the device is adapted to horses and vehicles of different sizes and lengths, and the gait of the horse may thereby be regulated in any degree desired. The cord G by extending around the pulleys C Gpulls the hind legs of the horse wide apart as he travels, and may be regulated to any degree,

thereby effectually preventing interfering, scalping, cutting quarters, overreaching, and any of the kindred defects in horses gaits. One hind leg cannot go forward without the other coming backward-the same distance, and hitching and the like are thereby prevented.

My invention is also invaluable in preventing horses .from breaking, as it will steady andregulate their gait. 7

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A gaiting device for horses consisting of the combination of bars adapted to be detachably connected to the shafts of vehicles, pulley supporting, forwardly extending, brace frames adj ustably mounted on said bars, pulleys mounted on the outer ends of said frames, and a cord passed about said pulleys in front of the horse and provided at each end with a hobble which is adapted to be attached to the respective leg of a horse, whereby one leg is pulled forward as the other moves backward, substantially as described.

2. A detachable gaiting'device for horses consisting of the combination of bars each having a socket-at one end and a clip at the other whereby they may be detachably applied on the ends of shafts, forwardly exfor connecting the ends of said cords to said tending brace frames adapted to be adjusted hind legs, substantially as described. is on said bars, yoke brackets at the outer ends In testimony whereof I afiix my signature of said frames, pulleys mounted in said yokes, in presence of two witnesses.

5 and a cord passed through said yokes and HARRY G. GOULD.

about the pulleys in front of the horse and Witnesses: having its ends extending backward to the CHARLES J. SCHMITT,

respective hind legs of the horse, and hobbies HENRY HENKEL. 

